Poets Cruise Past Southwestern in Non-Conference Play

Essence Scott '11 posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds as Whittier College made easy work of Southwestern College in non-conference action at the Graham Athletics Center on February 5.  The 86-45 victory improves the Poets record to 9-10 this season.

Scott played 22 minutes in the game off the bench.  Eight of her twelve rebounds came on the offensive end.  Rosario Rios-Aguilar '08 scored ten points and had five rebounds.  Melissa Johnson '10 had ten rebounds for the second straight game, and scored six points.  Christa Rainville '08 and Marie Vodicska '11 each hit a pair of three-pointers and finished with eight points.  Ashley Vierra '10 also hit two three's, giving her six points.  Kourtney Zilbert '11 had seven points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and a steal. 

Southwestern was led by Amy Wall, who made four shots from beyond the arc and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.  Kari Beth Faber pitched in with nine points and seven boards.

The Poets never trailed in the game after opening the game on a 9-2 run.  They lead by as many as 30 points in the first half, and took a 25-point lead into the locker room at halftime.  The Whittier defense was tenacious, forcing 12 first half turnovers and holding the Eagles to just 19 points.

The Poets' shots kept falling in the second half, and they built their lead to 44 points in the second half.  Whittier shot 46% in the game and won the battle on the glass 51-36.

The Poets go back to their conference schedule on February 7, when they travel to California Lutheran University.  The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30pm.